Gluing method and apparatus



Nov. 13, 1934. E. H. MERRITT GLUING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed May 21'.1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 llllllllllll:nlllllllllll IN VEN 7012. I

Nov. 13, 1934.- E. H. MERRITT 1,930,216

GLUING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed May 21, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

9/ W A BY I W I" A TTORNEYS.

. Nov. 13, 1934. E. H. MERRI'TT 8 GLUING METHOD AND APPARATUS I FiledMay 21, 1931 4 Sheets-Shet s 'Fi flfFi rli- FicpiZ.

IN VE N TOR. d wwaw/MW BY j I Mowp ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 13, 1934 GLUING METHOD AND APPARATUS Ericsson H. Merritt,Lockport, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Merritt Engineering& Sales Company, Inc., Lockport, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication May 21, 1931, Serial No. 538,979

17 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus and methods for forming and applyingglue, and, more particularly, for use in the provision and applicationof glue in veneering and analogous procedures; and in certain of itsaspects relates to methods and mechanism for the formation of plywood.

An object of the invention is readily and efliciently to provide on amaterial to be glued a coating of glue which is of substantially uniformconsistency and character throughout its extent.

A further object is to provide improved glue mixing and spreadingapparatus adapted to effect the substantially continuous application toa material to be glued of glue of unvarying consistency and char'acter.

Another object is to provide improved methods and means, wherebyvariations in time between the mixing operation and the spreadingoperation are eliminated, so that the coating of glue formed will be ofuniform character.

Another object is to provide improved methods and means for theformation of plywood.

A further object is to provide methods and means for the formation ofplywood whereby the same may be formed in a particularly expeditious andeffective manner and with relatively uniform results.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relationand order of one or more of such steps with respect to each of theothers, and the apparatus embodying features of construction,combinations of elements and arrangement of parts all as exemplified inthe following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the application ofwhich will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the inventionreference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a type of mixing and spreading apparatusembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrows along the line2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, illustratinganother form of gluing apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section along the lines 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top view of apparatus forming a continuation of theapparatus shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the reversing mecha-' nism on an enlarged scalewith the central portion cut away;

Fig. 7 is a similar side 'view thereof;

Fig. 8 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view the line 9-9 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view showing one of the star-shapedelements from the side;

Fig. 11 isa similar view showing one of the star shaped elements intransverse section;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line 12-12 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 13 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of another form ofapparatus;

Fig. 14 is a vertical section of a modified form of mixing and spreadingapparatus; and

Fig. 15 is a horizontal section on the line 15-15 in Fig. 14.

In the gluing of blanks for use in the formation of plywood, or othertypes of laminated structures, with various types of glue andparticularly so with glues of an albuminous nature considerabledifliculty has been experienced in getting satisfactory and uniformresults due to the tendency of certain glues to alter theircharacteristics upon standing, since the character of the last portionof a batch of glue will be different from the first portion of the batchwhen applied to the article to be glued. It is, moreover, desirable inmany instances that the glue, when applied, have a definite maximumfluidity, which gives rise to spreading problems unless all the glueapplied is of substantially the same consistency. It is furthermoredesirable in the formation of plywood and similar articles thatvariations in the character of successive articles produced be held to aminimum.

It is also desirable that there be provided simple and readily operableapparatus for use in the'formation of plywood and other laminatedstructures. v

With these-and other ends in view, the invention contemplates theprovision of improved mixing and spreading means and improved means forthe formation of laminated structures, which means in certain of theirembodiments are adapt- 105 ed for conjoint use and are also adapted forindependent use.

While a variety of types of procedures and mechanisms may be utilized inconnection with the invention, the invention is particularly exem- 1along plified in apparatus and procedures adapted for use in theformation of plywood.

There is exemplified in Fig. 1 apparatus for carrying out a procedurewherein dry adhesive material and a liquid, for example, water, are eachfed in controlled amounts at a continuous rate of speed into a mixingchamber having provision for a continuousdelivery, which delivery isregularly and uniformly conducted to spreading means whereby it maycontinuously be applied to material to be glued. As exemplified theapparatus also includes distributing means interposed between the mixingmeans and the spreading means.

The form of mixing and spreading apparatus particularly exemplified inFig. 1 includes a continuous mixer 9. This mixer comprises a mixing tankor receptacle 10 which, in the present instance, is open at the top toprovide for an overfiow, and is supported on a rotatable shaft 11adapted to be driven by suitable means as by a belt 12 extending over apulley-wheel 13. Into this mixing receptacle there extends a tubularshaft 14 which is adapted to be rotated in a direction opposite to thedirection of rotation of the shaft 11 by suitable means including apulley 15. The shaft 14 and the mixing tank 10 are provided;respectively with fins 16 and 17. These fins are, accordingly, mountedto move relative to one another and to continually agitate material inthe mlxingtank. Suitable means are provided for the continuousintroduction. of water and dry glue into the mixing tank. Such meansconsist, in the present instance, of a central channel 18 extending froma pipe 19 through the shaft 11 and opening into suitable connectingchannels 20in the bottom of the mixing tank. In the tubular shaft 14there is disposed a conveyor member 21 carried ona rotatable shaft 22.The channel 20a in the tubular shaft 14 opens into a hopper or supplytank 23, towhich an adhesive material in dry form is suitably suppliedfrom time to time, as through a chute 24. The shaft 22 is rotatedthrough the medium of a pulleywheel 25 and carries within thehopper anagitator 26 whereby continuous feed is assured.

, It'is to be notedthat the sides of the mixing tank 10 diverge upwardlyso that the centrifugal action will assist in assuringa. regular upwardmovement of the material supplied to the mixing tank with a consequentregular overflow of uniforrnly mixed material. This overflow passes intoa chamber 26a from which it is conducted by suitable means, such as apipe 2'7, to a point adiacent its point of use.

In the present instance, the mixed glue is adapted to be applied to asuccession of moving plies carried by a conveyor 28 to a point wherethey move between a spreading roll 29 and a lower roll 30. A conveyor 31is provided to receive and remove the coated plies. Suitable means areprovided for distributing and delivering a supply of glue to the roll 29in a uniform manner. This means comprises a container 32 divided bymeans of a partition 33 into two parallel troughs 34 and 35communicating with each other at their ends. In the bottom of one ofthese troughs there is provided a long slot 36 which extends to theupper periphery of the roll 29. Oppositely rotating spiral conveyors 3'7and 38 are provided for causing a continuous circulation of the glue inthe container 32. The provision of such means assists in maintaininguniform consistency.

Mixing and spreading methods and apparatus such as contemplated by theinvention is adapted for use in a variety of forms of procedures andapparatus for coating materials, including the coating of materials tobe included in laminated structures having any of a desired number oflaminations. For example, in the formation. of three-ply structures thecore may be coated on both sides and outer layers associated therewithor two plies may be coated on one side only. Again, in the provision offive-ply structures two cross-band members may each be coated with glueon both sides and an uncoated central core and two face-plies associatedtherewith, or four of the plies may be coated individually.

One form of apparatus adapted for use in the formation of plywood, andembodying the invention is shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. This apparatus iscapable of being utilized in a wide variety of applications, but, asshown, is particularly adapted for use in connection with a continuousmixer such, for instance, as exemplified in in Fig. 1. Whenso utilized,the mixing means and this apparatus cooperate in a particularlyefllcient and eifectivemanner in the formation of plywood structures ofrelatively uniform quality. The exemplified apparatus comprises acontinuous mixer 9a similar to the mixer 9 from which the overflow ofmixed material is led through pipes 39 and 40, respectively, todistributing and delivering means 41 and 42 similar to that shown inFigs. 1 and 2. From the delivery means 41 the mixed glue is delivered toan upper spreading roll 43 and from the delivery means,42 glue is delivered to a lower spreading roll 44. A conveyor 45 is arranged to deliverplies to the bite of the roll and a series of rotatable elements arearranged to receive the plies as they come from the roll. The rotatableelements comprise shafts 45a carrying elements 46, which are star-shapedin cross-section so that they will have a minimum of contact with thelower glued surface of the plies and will accordingly interfere to aminimum extent with the uniformity of the glue coating on the undersidethereof. Chain drives connected to a suitable source of power, :notshown, are provided for rotating the shafts 45a. A table 47 is disposedadjacent the conveyor 45 so that plies 55 carried in a stack on thetable, may readily be delivered to the conveyor; and a table 48 isdisposed adjacent the elements 46 so that plies 58scarried in a stack onthis table may be disposed successively on successive plies moving overthe rotatable elements.

Beyond the point where plies from the table 48 may be disposed uponplies carried by the elements 46, there is disposed a reversingmechanism indicated generally at A and described in detail hereinafterfor turning over the partial assemblies, and beyond the reversingmechanism there is disposed a conveyor 53 for carrying plies away fromthe same. Adjacent the conveyor 53 there is disposed a table 54 on whicha stack of plies 60 may be carried, so that plies from this stack may bereadily disposed on the upper unv In the rolls 43 and 44 and between thesame, whereby both the upper and lower surfaces of the cores receive arelatively uniform coating of glue. Each coated core then moves to theelements 46.

r A ply 58 taken from stack 59 on the table 48 is disposed on each ply55 as it passes over the elements 46. Each partial assembly thus formedis turned over by the mechanism A so that a glued surface of the core 55is uppermost, and run onto the conveyor 53. Successive plies 60 from astack 61 on the table 54 are disposed on the upper surface of the core55 so as to form a three-ply assembly which may be subjected to bondingoperations in any well-known or suitable manner. The reversing mechanismexemplified in Fig. 5 and shown in greater detail in Figs. 6 to 12,comprises a set of parallel flipper arm 62 and a set of parallelfiipper' arms 68, each carried upon a shaft 64. This shaft is arrangedto be driven intermittently as by means of a chain 65 connected with asuitable source of intermittent power not shown, so that plies orpartial assemblies delivered to the reversing mechanism.

at regular intervals will be reversed by a half turn of the shaft 64 andwill then be left undisturbed for a period sufficient for the removal ofa reversed article from beneath the arms which are in the position ofthe arm 68 in Fig. 8, and for the delivery of a second ply or partialassembly to a position just above the flipper arms in a position similarto the arms 62 in Fig. 8. Suitable means may movement of the partialassemblies into position for reversing and for the removal of them asafter they are reversed. In the present instance this means comprises aplurality of star-shaped elements 66 similar to the elements 46, andcarried on shaft 67 rotated in the present instance by means of a chaindrive 68 connected with a suitable source of power (not shown).Similarly roller members 69 carried on shaft 70 provided with achain-drive '71, are provided for carrying plies away from theirreversed position and delivering them to the conveyor 53. In instances,where it is desirable, the members 69 may com prise star-shaped elementssimilar to the elements 66. It will be seen that flipper arms aredisposed to operate between certain of the adjacent ones of the rotatingmembers 66 and 69, and that each of these arms is provided with aplurality of relatively short protuberances 72 having edge portions soarranged that the arms will have contact with the coated surfaces of thearticles at a relatively small portion of their surface. In theexemplified apparatus there is provided a stop member 73 to prevent thepartial assemblies from being carried past any of the flipper arms. Ifdesired, a similarly-placed element may be utilized as a trip member toefso feet the reversing of a ply or partial assembly so as to permit theuse of the apparatus for the reversing of elements delivered thereto atirregularly-timed intervals.

It will be appreciated that mechanism of the character heretoforeexemplified may be utilized in carrying out a wide variety ofprocedures. For example. there is shown in Fig. 13 a type of apparatusadapted for use in a procedure wherein only one sde of a ply is coatedat one time, as exem-. plified in said copending application of TheodoreWilliams Dike, filed herewith.

Plies 74 are taken from a stack '15 on a table 76 and disposed insuccession on a conveyor '17,

which carries them into proximity to a. glue-apply- I5 ing means 78,whereby the glue is supplied to the be provided for efiecting the,

upper surface of each ply. A ply '79 taken from a stack 80 on a table 81is then placed against the coated surface of each ply '14 and thepartial assembly thus formed run onto a reversing mechanism B, which,as-exemplified, is similar to the reversing mechanism A, except that therotary elements indicated at 82 will be in the form of cylinders sincethere is no reason for the use of star-shaped elements. From thereversing mechanism B the reversed assembly is run onto a conveyor 83 inproximity to an applying mechanism 84 and thereupon a ply 85 taken froma stack 86 on a table 8'! is laid against the coated upper surface ofthe plies '14.

It will also be appreciated that the invention contemplates theprovision of a wide variety of different types of mixing and spreadingmeans, either alone or in combination with means such as thoseexemplified and many others.

There is exemplified in Figures 14 and 15 a modified form of mixingmeans such as contemplated by the invention. In this form of apparatuselements 15b, 21b, 22b, 23b, 24b, 25b and 26b are similar to thesimilarly-numbered elements in the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 1.'The tubular shaft 14b carries at its lower end a plurality ofdownwardly-extending rods 94, which carry a member having upper andlower generally parallel and conical surfaces 96 and 9'7, respectively.The member 95 is formed, moreover, so as to bring thesurface 9'? to adownwardly-extending point 98 at its center. and a pipe 99 is providedfor the delivery of a liquid to the space surrounding this point. Themember 95 is in constant rotation due to the rotation of the shaft 142)and serves to throw the powdered material received from the conveyor 21bin a film 100; similarly it serves to throw liquid material received byits lower surface from the pipe 99 in a film 101. These-films mix asindicated at 102 and the mixed films fall into the elongated bottom 103of a mixing chamber 104. In this bottom there is disposed a conveyor 38band parallel to the bottom there is disposed a trough 105 in which theremoves a conveyor 87b, the'trough being connected at its end with thebottom of the conveyor as indicated in Fig. 15, so as to permit materialfrom the bottom of the chamber 103' to be conducted therefrom, and topermit a continuous circulation of the material. The bottom of thetrough is formed to provide an opening 36b for continuously supplyingmixed glue to a roller 29b.

It will thus be seen that this mixing means, like that shown in Fig. 1,serves continuously to mix substances in a m xing chamber, andcontinuously to supply to an applying means the mixed glue deliveredfrom said chamber.

Since certain changes in carrying out the above methods and in theconstructions set forth, which embody the invention may be made withoutdeparting from its scope, it is intended that all matter contained inthe above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed. and all statements of the scope of the invention which as amatter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A gluing method which comprises continuously and independentlyintroducing adry adhesive material and a liquid into a mixing chamber atpredetermined rates of flow, continuously mixing said substances in saidchamber, conducting a continuous delivery permitted by said chambertoward glue-applying means, continuously supplying the glue to saidapplying means, and substantially continuously applying-deliveredmaterial tosurfaces.

2. A gluing method which comprises continuously and independentlyintroducing a dry adhesive material and a liquid into a mixing chamberat predetermined rates of flow, continuously mixing said substances insaid chamber, conducting a continuous delivery permitted by said chambertoward glue-applying means, continuously supply ing the glue to saidapplying means, and substantially continuously. bringing material to beglued into proximity to said applying means, -whereby the glue isapplied thereto.

3. A gluing method which comprises continu ously and independentlyintroducing a dry adhesive material and a liquid into a mixing chamberat predetermined rates of flow, continuously mixing said substances insaid chamber, conducting a continuous delivery permitted by said chambertowardglue-applying means, continuously supplying the glue to saidapplying means, and successively bringing articles to be glued intocontact with said applying means, said steps being so correlated that asubstantially uniform quality of glue is applied.

4. A gluing method which comprises continuously and independentlyintroducing a dry adhesive material and a liquid into a mixing chamberat predetermined rates of flow, continuously mixing said substances insaid chamber, conducting a continuous delivery permitted by said chamberaway from the chamber, causing a continuous circulation of said glue,and continuously withdrawing a stream of glue from said circulatingflow, for immediate application to surfaces to be glued. v

5. The method of gluing which comprises continuously intermingling a dryadhesive material and a liquid continuously drawn from independentsources at predetermined,rates. of speed, and continuously applying theresultant glue to surfaces to be glued.

6. A gluing method which comprises contin-- uously introducing a dryadhesive material and a liquid at predetermined rates of flow into amixing chamber, conducting toward glue-applying means a continuousoverflow permitted by said chamber, and continuously supplying the glueto said applying means for immediate application thereby.

'7. Gluing apparatus comprising a mixing receptacle provided with meanspermitting a continuous controlled delivery, means continuously tointroduce into said receptacle a controlled flow of adhesive material,means continuously to introduce into said receptacle a controlled flowof a supplemental gluing material, means to cause said materials to bemixed in said receptacle and to pass out through said delivery means,glue-applying means, and means associated with said delivery means forbringing the mixed material into association with said applying meansfor immediate application thereby.

8. Gluing apparatus comprising a mixing receptacle provided with meanspermitting a continuous controlled delivery, means continuously tointroduce into said receptacle a controlled flow of adhesive material,means continuously to introduce into said receptacle a controlled flowof liquid, means to cause said materials to be mixed in said receptacleand to pass out through said delivery means, glue-applying means,distributing means to permit a continuous flow of material in ahorizontal direction and provided with an opening in proximity to saidapplying means and adjacent a portion of said flow, means to cause sucha flow, and means to conduct material from said delivery means to saiddistributing means at a point removed from said opening.

9. Gluing apparatus comprising a mixing receptacle provided with meanspermitting a continuous overflow, means continuously to introduce intosaid receptacle a controlled flow of adhesive material, means tointroduce into said receptacle a controlled flow of liquid, means tocause said materials to be mixed in said receptacle and to pass outthrough said overflow means, glue-applying means, and means continuouslyto conduct glue from said overflow to said applying means.

10. Gluing apparatus comprising a mixing receptacle provided with meanspermitting a continuous overflow, said mixing receptacle being formedwith upwardly diverging side walls and said overflow means beingprovided adjacent the upper portion of said receptacle, means to intro-,duce materials adjacent the lower part of said receptacle, and meanscontinuously to rotate said receptacle whereby the centrifugal actionwithin the chamber will cause mixed material to flow toward saidoverflow means.

11. Mixing apparatus comprising a mixing r'eceptacle having upwardlydiverging side walls and provided with overflow means adjacent its upperend, means to rotate said receptacle, means to introduce a dry materialadjacent the bottom of said receptacle, and means to introduce a liquidmaterial adjacent the bottom of said receptacle.

l2. Mixing apparatus comprising a mixing receptacle, a supply containerfor powdered material above said receptacle, agitating means in saidsupply container, means continuously to conduct a controlled flow ofpowdered material from said supply container to a point adjacent saidreceptacle, means to introduce a controlled flow of liquid to saidreceptacle, and means continuously to mix the materials in saidreceptacle,

said container being arranged to permit withdrawal of the material actedupon thereby at a rate equivalent to the introduction of materialthereto. 13. Glue-applying apparatus comprising a mixing receptacle,means continuously to introduce a controlled flow of adhesive materialto said receptacle, means continuously to introduce a controlled flow ofliquid to said receptacle, means to mix said materials in saidreceptacle, a glue-applying element, meansfor delivering glue to saidelement, said delivery means comprising a container member formed with acentral partition terminating short of the ends of the member andprovided with an opening at one side of said partition for deliveringglue to said applying element, means for conducting glue from saidmixing receptacle to the other side of said container member, and meansfor causing a continuous flow of glue about said partition.

14. Gluing apparatus comprising a receptacle, a rotatable member withinsaid receptacle, and provided with opposed surfaces each adapted toreceive a gluing material adjacent the axis of rotation .of the memberand to throw the material outwardly by centrifugal action, means todeliver a liquid gluing material to one of said surfaces adjacent theaxis of rotation of the member, means to deliver powdered gluingmaterial adjacent the axis of rotation of the member, glue-applyingmeans, and means to supply material from said chamber to said applyingmeans.

15. A gluing method which comprises continuously mixing a dry adhesivematerial and a liquid, causing a continuous circulation of the resultantglue, and continuously supplying to glueapplying means a stream of glueof uniform consistency from said circulating flow.

16; A method of forming plywood, which comprises intermingling regulatedflows of a powdered adhesive material and a liquid vehicle therefor,conducting toward a point or application a continuous flow or theresultant material equal to the intermingled flows, and substantiallycontinuously moving plies past said point of application to receive theresultant material.

1'1. Apparatus oi the character described, comprising a mixingreceptacle having upwardly diverging side walls and provided with anoverflow means adjacent its upper end, means to rotate said receptacle,means to conduct a regulated continuous flow of solid material to apoint adiacent the bottom of the receptacle, means to conduct acontinuous regulated flow of liquid material to a point adjacent thebottom or the receptacle, spreading means, means toconduct to saidspreading means material escaping over said overflow means, and meanscontinuously to move surfaces to be coated past said spreading means.

1 ERICSSON H. MERRI'I'I.

